Reaching out to Latino youth

Oakland Unified School District spokesperson Troy Flint said that in order to make sure all students succeed, OUSD needs to target and support the most vulnerable. “By most measures African American males are performing the worst, relative to other demographic groups,” he said. That is why in 2010 the Oakland Unified School District launched its African American Male Achievement project to support young black men academically.

But students from other demographic groups could also benefit from targeted programs.

“There’s certainly an argument that there should be an equally powerful initiative to support Latino students,” Flint said.

At one of Oakland’s most diverse schools, Skyline High, a program like that is already going strong.

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Mary Ruiz is a student reporter at MIlls College in Oakland. Mills reporters spent a semester getting to know the kids, teachers and culture of Skyline High School to bring us a portrait of the school.